Linux @lemmy.ml KseniyaK @lemmy.ca 1 mo. ago

Are there any modern wifi cards that work with Linux and have 100% FOSS drivers (no proprietary binary blobs)?

I was thinking of getting a wifi card like that, but can't seem to find any.

27 comments

Use libre boot website's info for reference. The Athero cars were the only open source option. They are from the aughties. That is your only option. It is the same for hardware - libre boot stuff with a Core Duo era processor, nothing newer is trusted hardware.
Here's a good list: https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi/blob/main/home/USB_WiFi_Adapters_that_are_supported_with_Linux_in-kernel_drivers.md
For something relatively fast, I suggest you stick to Intel chipsets, and avoid realtek like the plague. As others mentioned, you can go with Atheros, but your speed will certainly suffer, as well as probably breaking the ability to put the computer to sleep with S3.

I understand you would rather go with 100% FOSS, but this carries trade-offs.
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- Atheros ath9k (and previously ath5k) has been 100% FOSS for many years.
  
  I personally don't recommend the ath9k cards. There are a handful of routers they do not work with. You'll have to disable QoS to stop the packet drops.
  
  Yes, but does that still count as "modern"?
Even if so, it would likely still have proprietary blobs, just embedded into a ROM or flash chip on the card. Personally, I'd rather have firmware loaded at runtime over hard-coded, at least then the blob is able to be reverse engineered possibly.
- Intel has entered the chat
Not very modern, but this card is also available on Novacustom Laptops
I got an Atheros card, which is fine for WiFi on Debian 12 and was cheap to buy. Drivers were in the Debian foss repo. Bluetooth is not working on it though. Interestingly, the Bluetooth did work under PureOS but I never figured out why.
- Interestingly, the Bluetooth did work under PureOS but I never figured out why.
  
  The bluetooth probably needs a non-free firmware blob, as most of them do.
  
  Yeah maybe. I would expect PureOS to come with less non-free components though, being that it's endorsed by the FSF. I was quite surprised that BT was not working after switching to Debian.
You could always get an Ethernet-connected AP. This will allow you to use the latest WiFi but not compromise your OS.
- What os is the ap running?
  
  That's the beautiful thing - it doesn't matter.
- If you are going that route just use vfio
Intel ax210 worked good for me so far, but i don't know if there are software blobs since everything worked from the get go without needing to install anything

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